3 players who have won the Sunshine Double on multiple occasions ft. Steffi Graf
Novak Djokovic will miss the action at Indian Wells, the first part of the Sunshine Double due to the USA's regulations regarding unvaccinated individuals. Compensating for the World No. 1's withdrawal, however, a swarm of former champions will crowd the field.
The likes of Victoria Azarenka, the 14th seed at this year's tournament, have even pocketed the coveted Sunshine Double — Indian Wells and Miami Masters trophies in the same season. However, only three players have achieved the feat more than once in the history of tennis.
Steffi Graf (1994, 1996)
The only woman to have won the Sunshine Double on more than one occasion, Steffi Graf was also the first player to achieve the feat when she bagged the two trophies for the second time in her career in 1996.
Graf's run in 1994 saw her race to the Indian Wells title — a Tier II event at the time — without the loss of a single set. Her run in Miami was similarly dominant as she once again lifted the trophy after dropping only one set.
Seeded No. 1 at the two tournaments again two years later, Steffi Graf faced much more resistance. The German, however, managed to bag both titles again, beating Conchita Martinez and Chanda Rubin in the two finals, respectively.
Roger Federer (2005, 2006, 2017)
Roger Federer completed the Sunshine Double in 2005 and 2006, lifting the two trophies after dominant runs.
What was also incredible was the fact that Federer beat four different top players in the four finals — starting with Lleyton Hewitt at 2005 Indian Wells and Rafael Nadal in the same year in Miami. In 2006, he beat James Blake at Indian Wells and Ivan Ljubicic at the Miami Open.
Federer completed his third Double in 2017. He triumphed over close friends, countryman Stan Wawrinka and rival Rafael Nadal in the two summit clashes.
Novak Djokovic (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016)
What sets Novak Djokovic's multiple Sunshine Double triumphs apart is the incredible fact that three of them came in consecutive years — essentially meaning that he was undefeated at the two events between 2014 and 2016.
In 2014 and 2015, he defeated fellow Big 4 members, Federer (twice), Nadal and Andy Murray in the four finals. He then beat Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori in the 2016 Indian Wells and Miami finals, respectively, to cement his legendary status at the venues.
Novak Djokovic had already captured the Double before his remarkable three-peat, fighting past Nadal in both finals in 2011.